NCAVP Releases 2008 Hate Violence Report

Violence increases dramatically in Mid-West; number of murders at the highest level since 1999; NCAVP calls for education and prevention efforts.

For Immediate Release

Contact:
Roberta Sklar: (917)704-6358 (c)

New York- Violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people increased 2% from 2007 to 2008, continuing the trend of a 24% total increase in 2007, according to the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP)'s 2008 Hate Violence Report. Bias-related murders were at their highest rate since 1999 with 29 known anti-LGBT murders committed in 2008. Reports of violence in Milwaukee increased 64% and Minnesota and Chicago saw increases of 48% and 42%, respectively.

"We are deeply troubled about the 2008 statistics for a number of reasons including the fact that increases in victimization in the Upper Midwest far exceed the national increase of 2%. With Minnesota's 48% increase in 2008 and continued multi-year trend of such increases, we are concern for the safety of all GLBT Minnesotans even as we continue to work for equality," said Rebecca Waggoner Kloek, Anti-Violence Program Director of NCAVP member organization OutFront Minnesota.

NCAVP's annual Hate Violence Report is the most comprehensive report on violence against the LGBT communities in the United States and used as a resource by community activists, legislators, academics and the media. Each year, the FBI publishes its own report on hate crimes, which includes anti-LGB incidents, but it consistently contains information on far fewer cases than the NCAVP publication because it relies solely on law enforcement reports of such crimes rather than victim service organization data.

"NCAVP member organizations are a true resource for tens of thousands of LGBT people across the country," said Avy Skolnik, the New York City Anti-Violence Project's Coordinator of Statewide and National Programs. "This report demonstrates the need for more local programs throughout the United States, particularly in regions where no such resource or program exists."

NCAVP member organizations are found in 20 states throughout the country and many are the single resource in their entire state. More than half of the country is without a local anti-violence program in the entire state.

NCAVP makes several key recommendations in the 2008 report, including the need to support increased public awareness, education, documentation, and prevention efforts to end bias motivated violence. NCAVP calls upon elected officials and community leaders must show their commitment to ending violence against LGBT people with resources, support and a willingness to speak out against this violence.

The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs addresses the pervasive problem of violence committed against and within the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and HIV-positive communities. NCAVP is a coalition of programs that document and advocate for victims of anti-LGBT and anti-HIV/AIDS violence/harassment, domestic violence, sexual assault, police misconduct and other forms of victimization. Further, NCAVP supports existing anti-violence organizations and emerging local programs in their efforts to document and prevent such violence.